I think this topic has been discussed before but I'll bring it up again, how do YOU cook a meal when you're camping in some area during a total fire ban or a National Park with a ban on all solid fuel fires ? I don't like lighting the LP gas ring inside the COM outside the van when the conditions are dry and dangerous (I'm an ex firie)
It makes it hard if you're in a remote area and you've run out of fresh vegies and bread and you can't even cook a damper and bake a few spuds in the fire.

pd

Rest a can of baked beans amongst the exhaust manifold
May take a little while..but it should get warm enough.
Maybe a couple of bbq sausages on the muffler after a little olive oil is applied.

If Total fire ban means no gas gear outside the caravan or camper, then there aren't too many options

Aart

Hope I don't say the wrong thing here, buuuuut.....growing up in the bush, fire bans just weren't an issue. If you needed a feed or cuppa you made it, however fire safety and awareness was instilled from a young age. It just wasn't an issue, as care was always taken no matter the conditions.
IMHO fire bans are a lot like a lot of the safety regulations we have to abide by in the workplace, just protecting the idiots that are lucky to survive without being reminded to draw breath.
So in answer to your question PD, (and no disrespect to an ex-fire) just the same as when there is no fire ban.

Robbo

Geez, cant comment here, being only a young bloke, I don't have the bush miles to offer comment, cold baked beans wound be the go for us, as long as there is no carrot or Sam would starve.

But if I were to be caught out and knowing we camp with a tent, I would possibly still cook on the gas burner located on the trailer, but  then again if I thought that even this was dangerous we would pack up and head home, young kids shouldn't be put in danger, I know they need to learn but its about astute decisions. Wrong decisions cant be reversed.

i'm a bit with robbo,

i use a dream pot when there is a total fire ban, i light it in the back of my ute (with fire extinguisher close by) i cook roasts, bread, desserts or just about anything in it, the heat beads about 6-7 are totally contained. if there was any danger of starting a fire with the dream pot i wouldnt use it.

Good one Jack, now can I borrow your ute ? Only joking.

I was interested in finding out the alternatives to cooking with a fire in places where bans exist. I'm finding now more and more places with strict rules, "No collecting firewood, No solid fuel fires, No naked flame, heavy fines apply. It means you cook inside your van or not at all and I'm not keen cooking in my van.

pd

I don't have an answer for this Rob but I am convinced that we are paying the price with being over regulated because of the few in the past who have done the wrong thing.  Well maybe more than a few.


Derek

Derek wrote on Jan 5^th, 2010 at 8:12pm:

the few in the past who have done the wrong thing.Well maybe more than a few. Derek

Makes it hard doesn't it?
That statement about us all paying for the actions of the few rings true for more than just bush cooking. A lot of the access roads I used to use accessing the coast north of here are locked now because of the odd jackass.
Back on track I like the idea of the dreampot, I also have the Cobb I could use in a pinch.
MichaelB, only fairly young in the scheme of things myself  but I must say I was impressed with your comments. Ahead of your years if you ask me. Good one Mate.

Robbo

i made a blue in my last post, i should have said "cobb cooker" not "dream pot"

cheers - jack

PD,

Whats that old saying - " never say no to a feed, as you do not know when the next will be ....".

Interestingly the fire bans in SEQ for October 2009, whilst gazetted, did not exclude the use of heat beads upon reading, albeit the intention of no open fires/BBQ's was implied.

Without heat I will have to pack more Jatz and smoked oysters.

H

H,
Yes, call me anytime as long as it's not late for a meal.
I was down southern NSW in November, it was very very dry and they had several days of total fire bans, we had left home with meat (chuck steak etc) and vegies more suited to camp oven cooking than cooking on a small two burner stove in the van so that's what prompted me to ask about alternative cooking methods.
We didn't starve, always carry tinned stuff etc.

pd

PD,

One for the innovators out there - design a chemical/thermal heat pad for camp ovens.  Must be reusable of course, and components available from any hardware store.

A colleague had a US Ration Pack with a thermal heat pad included to heat the main meal, though I now understand why the meal could be eaten both warm and cold.  

H

H

Thermal heat pad sounds alright hotshins how about a dream pot/shuttle chef set up where you get your co hot and up to cooking temp then put it in a thermal pot to retain heat and keep cooking process going.By the way has any one used these dream pot/shuttle chef with any success they look like a good option if heading out and you know there's a total fire ban in place.

I am also inexperienced in this matter - but if the choice was to go on a non-fire/non flame trip or to stay at home, I think I would rather stay at home.  I tend to agree with MichaelB in his reference to safety and making intelligent decisions. And as we only go tent camping, it would be hard not to light a gas stove to cook something - even just to boil the billy for a cuppa! :(

Pete I have done a few things in a Thermal Pot but they are not popular in here and accordingly there is no thread for them.

You will find a few basic things at my Youtube Channel amongst the camp oven stuff.  I have found it great for corn beef, stew, curry, pudding, damper and the best I felt was the chicken and rice.

Worth considering especially if you can get an Aldi Cheapie like I did.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CAROLYNSCOCIOZ

Hi Carolyn didn't realise they where so offensive to CO lovers won't mention that again hay
cheers pete